Main Yemeni factions agree to form government

Yemen's main political factions, including the Houthi rebels, have signed an agreement mandating the president and prime minister to form a new government in an effort to defuse political tensions that have crippled the country, Al Jazeera reported.

Prime Minister Khaled Bahah will head the selection of the new ministers with consultation from President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, a statement emailed from the 13 political parties said.

"We, the political parties, ask President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi and Prime Minister Khaled Bahah to form a competent national government ... which is committed to the protection of human rights, rule of law and neutrality in the management of affairs of the country," the statement said.

The statement did not mention when the new government would be formed, but a number of party members who were involved in the negotiations that led to the agreement said it could be in a few days or a week.

UN special envoy Jamal Benomar, who attended the meetings, told the Reuters news agency that, under the agreement, parties that do not have representatives in the president's advisory body will be allowed to nominate candidates for the different ministries.

"Following that the prime minister will choose the more competent candidates for each posting," said Benomar.